The Phenomenal Student Podcast

I had the privilege of sitting down with Shannon Anderson—award-winning children’s author, nationally recognized educator, and creative force behind some of today’s most uplifting classroom reads.

We explored her newest works, including:
📘 I Love Blueberries!
🧡 B Is for Belonging
🏡 Do-It-Yourself Dollhouse
🕊️ The expanding Scooter the Word Bird series

Our conversation dug into the heart of what kids need most right now: belonging, confidence-building, growth mindset, and strong communication skills.

We even took a deep dive into a shared passion of ours—how underperforming G/T students are often misunderstood, overlooked, and how educators can better nurture their brilliance.

Shannon brought warmth, clarity, and practical wisdom to every moment of the interview. I can’t wait to share this episode of The Phenomenal Student Podcast with you soon.

Stay tuned.
Be Phenomenal,
Mr. Short

🎙️ Phenomenal Conversations w/ Mr. Short: Sean Morrisey

In this episode, I sit down with literacy expert Sean Morrisey to talk about his journey into teaching, the current landscape of education, and—of course—his deep passion for vocabulary instruction.

Insightful, practical, and energizing.
You don’t want to miss this one.

Be Phenomenal,
Mr. Short 🌟

🌟 Phenomenal Spotlight: Sage Online Academy 🌟

Last week, I had the chance to catch up with Nate Joseph of Pedagogy Non Grata to talk about his exciting new platform: Sage Online Academy. 🎓💻

We discussed what he’s been up to since our last conversation, his approach to teaching, and of course, all about his new online academy.

👉 Tune in and learn more about Nate’s platform here:
🔗 Sage Online Academy

Be Phenomenal,
Mr. Short ✨

#FYP #Education #EdTech #PhenomenalSpotlight

🎙️ Phenomenal Conversations W/Mr. Short: Dr. Jim Ewing 🎓
For the Season 5 premiere of The Phenomenal Student Podcast, I had the pleasure of interviewing Dr. Jim Ewing!

We discussed his start in education, his journey to becoming a college professor, and his dynamic presentation style. 💡✨

🎧 Tune in tomorrow at 5 AM (CST) for this powerful conversation!

Be Phenomenal,
Mr. Short 🌟

#FYP #Podcast #Education #TeacherLife #ThePhenomenalStudent

🔗 Twitter/X: @Mr100Teacher
🎙️ TikTok: @ThePhenomenalTeacher
🎧 Podcast: The Phenomenal Student Podcast

Phenomenal Collab: Melissa & Lori Love Literacy!We talked podcast origins, The Literacy 50, and vocabulary instruction (Lori even modeled it—Anita Archer would approve!)Full convo drops tomorrow!Be Phenomenal,—Mr. Short #Literacy #ExplicitInstruction #ELA

🎙️ Phenomenal Conversation w/ Mr. Short: Kim Lockhart

I spoke with Kim Lockhart—FSL & Special Ed teacher—about:

✅ Her career journey
🎯 Differentiated instruction
📊 Evidence-based practices
🧠 Improving teacher training

Whether you're a new teacher or seasoned vet, there's something here for you!

Be Phenomenal,
Mr. Short

📲 Connect with me:
Twitter: @Mr100Teacher
Instagram: @thephenomenalstudent
TikTok: ThePhenomenalTeacher
🎧 Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-phenomenal-student-podcast/id1607341077

🎙️ New Episode Drop!

On this week’s Phenomenal Student Podcast, I’m joined by the incredible Patty McGee to unpack her latest work:
📘 Not Your Granny’s Grammar: An Innovative Approach to Meaningful and Engaging Grammar Instruction (co-authored with Tim Donohue)

If you teach Grades 2–8 and want grammar to stick without boring your students to sleep, this episode is for you. 👇

🧩 Rethinking the “rules” of grammar
🎯 Making instruction purposeful and practical
🎒 Creating experiences that actually engage students
✍️ Helping kids write with clarity and confidence

Let’s move beyond worksheets and into something transformational.

🗣️ Tag a teacher who’s ready to ditch the drill-and-kill!

#NotYourGrannysGrammar #PattyMcGee #PhenomenalStudentPodcast #WritingInstruction #GrammarMatters #Grades2to8 #BePhenomenal

Last week, I had the incredible opportunity to speak with Dr. Nathaniel Swain about his inspiring and unconventional journey in education. In this episode, we dive into:
✅ His unexpected start in the classroom
✅ The winding road to becoming a researcher
✅ The powerful insights behind his new book: Harnessing the Science of Learning

Dr. Swain brings a wealth of knowledge and clarity to the conversation around how we teach and how students truly learn.

📘 Check out his book here: Harnessing the Science of Learning

🎧 Tune in to the episode and let me know what you think. Your feedback means everything!

Be Phenomenal,
Mr. Short

#PhenomenalStudentPodcast #ScienceOfLearning #DrNathanielSwain #EducationMatters #BePhenomenal

🎙️ Phenomenal Conversations w/ Mr. Short: Featuring Zach Groshell

A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Zach Groshell—educator, author of Just Tell Them, and co-host of the Progressively Incorrect podcast.

We discussed his dynamic career in education, from teaching a wide range of subjects—including Design—to his current roles as an advocate for explicit instruction and thought leader in the field. We also dove into the inspiration behind his new book and the bold conversations he’s having on his podcast.

Zach brings a refreshing perspective grounded in research, classroom experience, and a clear passion for teaching with clarity and purpose.

🎧 Listen in and be inspired by this powerful conversation!
📘 Book: Just Tell Them
🎙️ Podcast: Progressively Incorrect

Be Phenomenal,
Mr. Short

Phenomenal Spotlight W/Mr. Short: #LiteracyMatters25

🌟 Exciting news! Yesterday, I had an inspiring chat with Dr. Cierra Nickerson, the Director of Professional Learning at Aldine I.S.D. about #LiteracyMatter25! 📚✨

Join us for their FREE Virtual Conference on March 22nd! We covered some amazing topics, including:

🔹 What is Literacy Matters?

🔹 The origin of Chapter 1

🔹 Keynote Speaker highlights

🔹 Sessions offered (including my own!)

🔹 How it aligns with Dr. Goffney’s Science of Reading focus

🔹 Sneak peek into Chapters 6-10 (and the potential for an in-person conference!)

Let’s make literacy a priority! Be phenomenal! 💪 #LiteracyMatters #AldineISD #Education #VirtualConference